Automatic fire-extinguishing apparatus



(No Model.)

G.BARNES. AUTOMATIC FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS.

Patented Apr. 21, 1885-.

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CHARLES BARNES, OF DAYTON, KENTUCKY.

AUTOMATIC FIRE-EXTINGUISHING' APPARATUS.

enactment-Ion forming part of Letters Patent No. 316,223, elated April 21, 1885. Application filed April 24, 1882. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OnARLns BARNES, of Dayton, in the county of Campbell and State of Kentucky, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Fire-Extinguishers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of automatic fire-extinguishers in which a valve is held to its seat by fusible metal until the metal is fused by heat in case of fire.

Its object is to provide against the release of the valve under ordinary changes of temperature, and to insure its speedy release in case of fire. I have found that metal surfaces united by fusible solder-j oints are not always reliable, especially after considerable exposure to varying temperatures below the fusing-point. OW- ing to the unequal expansion between the fusible solder and the melted surfaces united by it, the solder becomes weaker, and when the flow of water is turned on sprinklers not in proximity to the tire are liable to be forced open, causing unnecessary damage. By my presentinvention these difficulties are avoided, as will be seen from the following description of the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a central longitudinal section of a perforated distributer having within it a valve which is held to its seat by a'fusible metal pin passing transversely through the neck of the distributer, upon which pin the stem of the valve rests. Fig. 2 is another form of distributer, shown in similar section. In this the valve is held to its seat by a fusible pin passing transversely through the neck of the distributer and the valve-stem. Fig. 3 is a plan view or elevation of a link for connecting a wire which holds asupply-valve closed until released by heat. The parts are shown disconnected in this view, but are to be united by afusible pin passing through the socket and pin, as shown in Fig. 4, which is an elevation of asupply-valve case. The valve is held closed by the fusible jointed wire until the link parts are fused, when it is opened by the weighted lever-arm. Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of a clevis-slide, the opposite members of which are united by a fusible metal pin, which passes through the lugs projecting from clevis, its uniting-slide, and so much of the valve-holding wire as illustrates the means of uniting the same. Fig. 7 is a central longitudinal section of a fusibly-jointed wire link or coupling similar to the form shown in Fig. 3, except that the pin and socket are made square or angular, instead of round, and the fusible metal pin which unites the pieces is one-half in each piece.

The perforated distributers A are provided with elastic cup-valves, like that shown in my Patent No. 239,639, dated April 5, 1881. lVith this form of valve, which I prefer because there can be no leakage and no danger of sticking, as there is with valves in which the valve and seat are both metal, no screw-threaded stem is needed to tighten the valve to its seat; hence when the neck of distributerAis transversely perforated, as in Fig. 1, and the neck and valve-stein, as in Fig. 2, and the fusible pins B, severed to the proper length froma fusible rod or wire of the proper gage, it is only necessary to place the valvein position and insert the fusible pin B, when the distributer is ready for use.

If it is desired to apply my present invention to a metal valve and seat which requires tightening, the fusible pins B may be used, as the pintles in the forms of distributers represented in Figs. 2, 3, and 4 of my Patent No. 233,393; or the latch k of that patent could be locked by the pin, instead of being soldered. The supply-valve I have shown here is the same as represented in said Patent No. 233, 393, as is also the clevis represented in Fig. 6, except the slide 0 C. This consists of two rings or sections of tubes. The upper one, 0, has a single lug projecting from it to enter between two lugs projecting from the opposite member, C. These lugs are perforated to receive the fusible pin B, which unites the two halves.

A very simple, cheap form of coupling for fusibly-jointed wires is represented in Fig. 3. It consists of a female member, D, which receives a male member, E. \Vhen the parts are put together, a transverse perforation is made through both to receive the fusible pin B; but I prefer the form shown in Fig. 7, for the reason that the fusible pin is nearer to the outer surface of female member D, and therefore the members. Fig. 6is a side elevation of the I will fuse quicker, and the whole of the pin,

ented to me, and render it unnecessary to illustrate a great number of obvious modifications embodying the same principle.

\Vhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is I 1. In an automatic fire-extinguisher, the following parts in combination: a perforated distributer adapted to be secured to the end of a discharge-pipe and a valve located within the distributer andheld to'its seat within the discharge part b ya fusible pin, B, passing through the neck of the distributer substantially as specified.

2. In an automatic fire-extinguisher, the combination substantially as before set forth, of the distribu ter A, adapted to be attached to the end of a discharge-pipe, and a valve located within the discharge part and having a stern extending into the neck of the distributer, with a fusible metal pin B, passing transversely through the valve-stem and the neck of the distributer to, retain the valve in place until released by heat.

CHAS. BARNES.

Witnesses:

G120. J. MURRAY, 0. H. MUHRMAN. 

